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Air Products Announces Plan to Divest Homecare Business in Continental Europe to The Linde Group

Air Products (NYSE: APD) today announced it has reached agreements for The Linde Group to purchase its Homecare business in Belgium, Germany, France, Portugal and Spain. The transactions are subject to regulatory approval and employee consultation requirements.

The total purchase price for Air Products' Continental Europe Homecare business will be euro 590 MM, subject to terms agreed upon completion.

The agreements cover the sale of Air Products' patient-based oxygen-therapy, sleep-therapy and infusion-therapy services in Continental Europe. This business serves a total patient base around 260,000 in all five countries and had revenue of approximately euro 210 MM last year.

Chairman, President and CEO John McGlade said, "Over many years, our Continental European Homecare team has run a successful business, helping us to build several leadership positions. With the more recent trends towards concentrators and non-oxygen therapies, we feel it is no longer a natural fit with our core gases business. Our growth strategy lies in the energy, environmental and emerging markets in which we continue to see significant opportunities."